Several years ago someone generously gave us a Ford Escort to use on our last home assignment. When we returned to Taiwan it became Andrea’s car. Today while Dwight was driving it the engine made some loud banging sounds. AAA towed it to a mechanic to check it out. The initial report isn’t too good. Pray that we have wisdom to know whether it’s worth it to get the car fixed or let it rest in peace.

We are visiting our friends, the Willetts, this weekend. Malia and Stacie just got back from riding horses with Syd. The Willetts have a quote on their refrigerator that I think is fun:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming... ‘Wow! what a ride!’”
racecar driver Bill McKenna

This weekend while visiting the Willetts, Ron had Dwight don cowboy boots and hat to play the part. What a blessing to visit old friends!

WorldVenture hosted several missionary families last week including us for a time of encouragement and debriefing. We had a wonderful time with several other families that are back from the field for home assignment including Tim & Jacki Faulkner, Gerry & Marla Schroeder, and Mel & Patty Davis. It was fun finding out that Mel Davis was in a computer programming class Dwight taught years ago at Warner Pacific College.

What a wonderful time for the Johnson and Fernandez families as we celebrated with David and Leah as they began their marriage. Both families enjoyed immensely our time together and are looking forward to the next time we can get together.

We are working at getting some pictures together. For now, Stefan, Leah’s brother, has a few here.

Here is a video that can be used to promote the idea of offering a course for young men.  Many thanks to Beth Turner, Seppie Myburgh, Carl Brenneman, Andrew, Ben, Joseph, Michael, and Nathaniel for offering their thoughts on the class.

I’ll use the video in presentations this year to encourage others to make an effort to build into the lives of young men.

This picture was taken yesterday just before I returned to the States. It shows what is left of the Morrison Academy K8 school. Out with the old and in with the new is taking on a new meaning. There is a blog with pictures and a couple of videos you can watch to se what is happening.

When we return to Taiwan it will be all new!

The average American today suffers no twinge of conscience when he passes the sick man on the road. He knows he has paid the “Good Samaritan” to come along after him and take care of this rather unpleasant social obligation. But the import of Christ’s teaching is very plain. He expects us to take the role of the Good Samaritan, and not delegate our Christian love and compassion and concern in every instance to a paid professional or functionary. We are enjoined to love our neighbor--not just to pay taxes to employ someone else to love our neighbor...

I do think a lot of people think that their work is done because they pay taxes and vote to pay more taxes. Look for and take the opportunities God give you today for using your money, time, and talent as a modern Good Samaritan.

(The picture above is from the area in China hit by a 7.9 earthquake.)

Praise that:
The whole family will be together for David's wedding.
The board of trustees voted to build all the proposed buildings for Morrison Taichung campus next year.
Dwight's presentations to several classes on relationships, technology & culture went very well.
Malia and several classmates chose to be baptized.
Beckie and Malia got back to the US and enjoyed seeing Andrea get her doctorate of physical therapy.
Pray for:
Energy to finish the year well while moving to temporary facilities for next year.
Beckie to settle in and be helpful to her family.
Malia as she finishes the year in a new school.
God to raise up people to increase our support level from 82% to 100%.

With Beckie and Malia back in the US, I spent a little time this weekend trying out a new webpage creator we have at school to create a resource list of podcasts, books and marriage conferences that have been the most helpful to us. I also posted a few the the best audio files from the podcasts. Check it out and let me know what you think and if any of it is useful.

It’s going to be a busy 5 weeks until I am able to join my family in the US. Everywhere I look there’s things I need to do and I need to push through some of it. Pray for motivation and discipline. Thanks!

Today is a big day for our family as we celebrated Malia’s choosing to be baptized. Five middle school boys and Malia were all baptized in Morrison’s swimming pool. After our friend Denny performed the baptism itself, we got to pray for her. It is the most wonderful blessing we have as a family to see each of our kids continuing to choose to follow Christ.

The plan was to spend most of Easter vacation packing and getting our “home assignment” physicals. The physicals took most of two days. We learned that the physical therapy Dwight had after his shoulder surgery last August didn’t get the job done so now he’s having therapy for frozen shoulder 3 times per week.

Sunday we met Chinese friends, Raymond and Tiffany at a local tea house.

We took in the Wednesday morning free entry to the science museum as our big outing for the week. Our friends, the Dodds, joined us as we learned about Chinese culture and science.

After church, we went out for traditional tea with Chinese friends. We have a busy week planned for the break starting with physicals for all three of us on Monday and Tuesday.

Today was Morrison’s annual Track and Field Day for Kindergarten through eighth grade.

Malia took first in the sixth grade girls 100M by an inch and second in the 200M.

Great job Malia!

We are headed to Taipei on the 5:45AM bus to watch Malia’s team tomorrow in tournament. I’ll post more later.